Ghosting and Account Selling

December 6, 2007

Recently, there was yet another online poker scandal, where the winner of a big tournament was caught cheating and had to forfeit his winnings…this time it involved a practice known as Account Selling.

Account Selling, is becoming a somewhat popular option for people who get deep in the major tournaments.  It means exactly what the term would imply, a person deep in the tourney sells their account ‘temporarily’ to a more experienced tournament player to finish it out.  Often the deals will be negotiated for a certain % of the final cash, or sometimes a flat fee.

This most recent scandal involved Sorel Mizzi (aka Imper1um, ranked in top 5 on pocket fives), and Bluff Magazine Editor Chris Vaughn.  You can read all about it on Poker News @ http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/12/online-poker-sorel-mizzi-chris-vaughn-speak-one.htm

Ghosting – is another popular ‘cheating’ method used online today.  Basically, another person shadows your play, and watches you, while at the same time, hearing what cards you have (via cell phone, or im, or in person) advises/coaches you on what to do. 

Both practices are difficult to police.  At least account selling can be traced to logging in/out of the site…GG online poker.

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One reason not to play @ Absolute Poker?

October 17, 2007

Absolute Poker is currently in the midst of a PR nightmare, and perhaps a bigger concern for the online poker community in general.

Apparently, there has been evidence of ‘super accounts’ on the site – capable of seeing everyone’s hole cards, ip addresses, names, etc.  These accounts won a lot of money and then proceeded to ‘dump’ it in 200/400 NL games, to a newly created account, that cashed out right away.

You can read more about it on Pocketfives or Two Plus Two poker forums.

It’s a scary thought, and certainly something to be concerned with while playing online.  Thankfully, we’re all addicted and can’t stop playing, so we don’t have to worry too much!  GG me.